Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bestorp Hy3? Dods 1632

• Besthorp(') 1318 FF 1331 Ch 1348,1373 Cor 1384 FF 1402 FA

• Besthorpe 1335 Pat

• Bestrope 1542 Monson

• Bessthorp 1526 AD

• Beesthorp(') 1336 FF 1581,1606 Monson

• Beesthorpe 1594–96,1609 Monson 1660 Cragg 1762 Foster

• Beesthropp 1662 ib

• Bysthorp(e) 1525,1526 AD

• Bistrop a1567 LNQv

• Bistrop laine 1625 Terrier

• Beisthorp(e) 1529,1578 AD

• Beysthorp 1529 ib

• Besethroope 1543 AD

• Beasthorpe F.m 1828 Bry

Etymology

This would appear to be identical in origin with Besthorpe, PN Nt 183–84 and 201, for which the editors point out that, in view of the absence of forms with medial -e -, the first el. is unlikely to be the ODan  pers.n. Besi , recorded once independently from L in DB (Feilitzen 201), They reject, therefore, Ekwall's interpretation, DEPN, that the names are in fact derived from the ODan pers.n.Their suggestion, accepted by Fellows-Jensen, SSNEM 123, is that it is OE  *bēos 'bent grass', as in numerous Beestons, v. DEPN s.n., and that the name would mean 'the outlying settlement where bent grass grows', v. þorp . Fellows-Jensen points out that Beasthorpe lies in Thornton Carrs, where bent grass would be liable to grow.